July 05, 2008

Reclaiming D.C. streets

A story in the Washington Post tells how D.C. is reclaiming city streets from suburban commuters and giving them back to residents. How? The city is converting one-way routes back to normal, two-way streets. And on wider streets, reclaiming an extra travel lane from speeding cars, transforming it into a median refuge so that pedestrians can get across the street safely.

Downtown Raleigh has a similar problem: one-way high-speed thoroughfares designed for just one purpose -- to speed drivers into and out of the center city as quickly as possible.

This approach treats the road as if it were only for motion, and never for access; as if people desired only to be on the move through downtown, and never actually lighting anywhere at a destination.

The effect of this approach? Here's an example: One of our best parks is severed from the surrounding area by four-lane speedways; no sidewalk dining opportunity or retail shopfront will prosper, as long as the adjacent street functions like the Cross-Bronx Expressway.

Traffic roaring through at high speeds isn't just bad for people walking. It also inhibits economic activity and prevents new businesses from capitalizing on a great downtown setting.

Maybe, just as D.C. is doing, it's time to give Raleigh streets back to residents and businesses, instead of favoring commuters and speeding cars from outlying areas.

Comments

Fortunately, Raleigh's beginning to get the idea. Martin and Hargett were recently turned into two-way streets (as well as a tiny bit of Morgan). And Lenoir and South Streets are soon to follow. Let's hope the trend continues.